Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs Chairman William Timmons, along with Republican members of the panel, is pursuing an investigation into how drone incursions are handled by the federal government at U.S. military bases and sensitive sites. The lawmakers have reached out to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for documents and communications related to countering unmanned aerial systems within the country.
“The Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs is continuing to investigate how the federal government addresses drone incursions on U.S. military installations and sensitive sites,” stated the lawmakers. They highlighted recent high-profile incidents near critical infrastructure and public events that suggest current domestic counter-drone operations are not fully equipped to address evolving threats.
A hearing held by the subcommittee on April 29, 2025, titled “Securing the Skies: Addressing Unauthorized Drone Activity Over U.S. Military Installations,” emphasized the growing national security concern posed by drones. In 2024 alone, over 350 drone incursions were recorded at 100 military installations. Witnesses during this hearing noted that advancements in AI-enabled drone technologies increase these risks significantly. The session also identified gaps in legal authority and interagency coordination.
“To better understand this issue, the Subcommittee is requesting documents and information concerning the federal government’s authorities and operational posture for countering unmanned aerial systems (cUAS) within the United States,” continued the lawmakers, emphasizing discrepancies in threat treatment between unmanned versus manned aircraft under current laws.
The letters addressed to DOD Secretary Hegseth, Attorney General Bondi, and DOT Secretary Duffy can be accessed through provided links.
